Two Elgin lawyers seek Democratic nomination for Kane County judge

Two Elgin lawyers, Lark Cowart a former prosecutor and Michael Noland a former state senator, are vying for the Democratic nomination in the March 20 primary for Kane County Circuit Judge.

The position will be vacant when Kane County Judge David Akemann retires in December.

Cowart said she served as an assistant state’s attorney for 14 years, where she was twice nominated for prosecutor of the year.

“I’ve always wanted to be a judge … pretty much since I was 6 years old,” Cowart said.

A tour of a county jail is what sparked her interest, she said. “I learned about what a judge does, and I wanted that job,” Cowart said.

Cowart said a judge’s job was explained to her as when people have trouble they can’t fix on their own, they go to a judge who helps them do that.

“This is the only job in the legal system where you are not an advocate. That is what I love about it. ... ,” Cowart said.

Cowart also has a master’s degree in dispute resolution and served as a mediator in small claims court and in victim and offender mediation in a juvenile diversion project, both in California.

Cowart said what sets her apart from her opponent in the Democratic primary is her day-in-and-day-out courtroom experience for 14 years.

Noland, who represented the 22nd Legislative District from 2007 to 2017, said he has close to 20 years of experience practicing law and has handled hundreds of civil and criminal cases.

“It’s important work,” Noland said of serving as a judge. “It has an impact on people’s lives directly, more than I could do in the General Assembly. ... ”

While in the General Assembly, Noland chaired the Criminal Law Committee and got a resolution passed that placed a constitutional amendment on the ballot to give citizens the ability to recall their governor.

“We impeached and convicted [Gov.] Rod Blagojevich and all of the ethics and campaign finance reforms has my name on it,” Noland said. “Much of the sentencing reform I supported and I helped repeal the death penalty. I was the first senator to support body cameras for law enforcement.”

Noland said as chairman of the Criminal Law Committee, he presided over hearings that required debates and maintained decorum.

“Sometimes they were very vigorous and aggressive debates when the debate was the death penalty,” Noland said. “That well qualifies me to be a judge. In addition to that, I have life experience … from delivering pizzas to delivering babies when I was a Navy corpsman.”

Noland said he maintained his law practice while serving in the General Assembly. “I have practiced in both civil and criminal courts, handling hundreds of cases,” Noland said. “I have been in courtrooms hundreds of time. I litigate. ... ”

The Kane County Bar Association listed Cowart as Recommended and Noland as Not Presently Recommended. Noland said he was told it was due to a lack of litigation experience.

“I provided information on hundreds of cases,” Noland said. “I have been litigating cases all during my time in the General Assembly. The gentleman who called said it was close and I take him at his word.”

A League of Women Voters forum for judge candidates is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N Grove Ave., Elgin.